Beside him, the female corpse had completely changed into someone else, yet none of the surrounding guests seemed to notice, remaining indifferent.
The ghost marriage ceremony proceeded as usual.
Perhaps due to the disappearance of the female corpse and the fact that his partner in the ritual had become 7, Lu Chu gradually felt less restrained and began to move his body and limbs freely.
Someone carried several boxes into the hall, placing them beside the offering table. The boxes contained various items, which at first glance appeared to be betrothal gifts. Upon closer inspection, Lu Chu realized that the clothes and jewelry inside were actually paper-made funerary objects.
At this moment, the shaman held a red string in her palm, muttering incantations in a language Lu Chu couldn’t understand. After finishing, she approached and tied the red string around the wrists of 7 and Lu Chu.
The shaman’s eyes were cloudy: “Entering the bridal chamber completes the ceremony. Later, choose an auspicious day for burial and bury the bones together.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Chu immediately recalled his nightmare from the previous day.
In that dream, both he and the one he was to be buried with were long-deceased corpses. While it was understandable for the female corpse to be decayed, why did he also turn into a corpse at the end of the dream despite being alive? Perhaps it had something to do with the female corpse absorbing yang energy to replenish yin.
Being chosen meant death—thus it was “bone-matching corpse,” not “ghost marriage.”
Under the guidance of two people, Lu Chu and 7 were led to the bridal chamber.
The door adorned with celebratory characters was pushed open, and the two people forcefully escorted Lu Chu and 7 inside. As soon as Lu Chu stepped in, he saw a round wooden table with a wine of consummation and two unmarked nameplates. Looking further inside, the bridal chamber contained not just a wedding bed, but a large coffin on the bed.
The coffin was spacious enough to accommodate two adults.
Those who brought them here perhaps mistook 7 for the female corpse, intending to place him and Lu Chu together in the coffin.
7 pulled Lu Chu into his arms, gave the two who forced them in a glance, and the two immediately froze, becoming dazed. They bowed to the pair and left the room.
Analyzing the situation, Lu Chu realized that if 7 hadn’t replaced the female corpse, he would have been forcibly placed in the coffin with the corpse to lie there for days. During this time, it was uncertain whether the female corpse might become animated. Although these events happened in his dream, since the female corpse had entangled with him, it would soon find an opportunity to attack him in reality.
With this realization, Lu Chu breathed a sigh of relief, looking up at 7 from his embrace: “You saved me again.”
7 gazed at him, his clear, dark eyes reflecting Lu Chu’s innocent and sincere look. His expression softened, and despite himself, he placed a restrained kiss on Lu Chu’s forehead.
Lu Chu was momentarily stunned, his ears turning red instantly. He then bit his lower lip, eyes sparkling with an uncontrollable smile, looking up at 7 with even clearer, wetter eyes.
The next moment, 7 pressed his head deeply into his embrace, avoiding his eyes.
7 held the obedient Lu Chu close, his heart fluttering even without the bewitching gaze. He kissed the top of Lu Chu’s soft hair and then buried his face in Lu Chu’s neck, deeply inhaling his scent. His voice was hoarse: “Close your eyes, sleep, and everything will be over.”
7’s hot breath on his neck sent shivers through Lu Chu, making his spine tingle and his ears burn even more.
After a long while, Lu Chu, buried in 7’s chest, replied softly: “Mm.”
The surroundings began to dissolve into chaotic fragments.
7 lifted his hand, looking at the sleeping Lu Chu in his arms, his eyes filled with unspoken desire.
Not now.
———
In reality.
Lu Chu, who had been tossing and turning due to nightmares, finally calmed down and fell into a deep sleep.
7, who had exited Lu Chu’s dream, stayed by his side.
Even though it was deep into the night, the sky was bright with stars and moonlight, making the night not too dark.
Ghosts could use moonlight, and under the night sky, 7’s spirit body gradually solidified.
Feeling his spiritual power sufficient, 7 left Lu Chu’s side and floated to the balcony, where he saw a hideous female ghost staring intently into the room.
The female ghost met 7’s gaze and immediately realized that this was the spirit who had ruined her plans by entering the dream. Knowing she was no match for him, she turned and fled out the window. 7’s eyes flashed coldly, and he chased after her in a swift movement. On the rooftop, with his restored spiritual power, he easily blocked the female ghost’s path, grabbing her neck with an invisible force.
He didn’t directly touch the ghost’s neck but controlled her body with his spiritual power.
The female ghost, more accurately a female corpse, had disheveled hair, rotting blue-black skin, and one eye about to fall out of its decayed socket. Thick, black liquid dripped from her mouth as she snarled at 7 due to being choked.
7 spoke calmly: “Bone-matching corpse?”
The female corpse, terrified, continued to roar and struggle, but realized her efforts were futile due to the vast difference in their strength.
“Why help a human?” the female corpse demanded, her eyes wide with rage and fear, red-black liquid streaming from them down her deformed, rotting cheeks. “He was my prey first!”
Upon hearing this, 7’s expression remained indifferent as he applied a little more pressure to her neck.
The female corpse began convulsing, and in her agony, one of her eyes fell from its socket, rolling on the ground and leaving a trail of sticky, foul residue.
“You…you…you…” the female corpse tried to speak but fell silent the next moment.
As the moon hid behind the clouds, the female corpse disintegrated into nothingness.
Throughout the process, 7’s hand never directly touched her body, but he still shook it off as if he had touched something filthy.
After efficiently handling everything, 7 nodded, half-closed his eyes, and basked in the cool moonlight. His body shimmered faintly, becoming more solid.
After a long time, he quietly said: “Because he is mine.”
———
The next day, Lu Chu woke up feeling refreshed, all the fatigue and weariness from the previous night gone.
Recalling the events of the dream, he felt inexplicably embarrassed even though nothing had happened between him and 7.
He got up, washed, and hid his excess thoughts.
When he returned from the bathroom, he found the other three still in bed.
Surprised, Lu Chu called out to them, and Tang Shizhe responded first in a low voice: “We don’t have a class for the first period today. Lu Chu, did you have a spring dream last night? You seem so energized this morning.”
Lu Chu was at a loss for words, his mind flashing to 7’s hot breath on his neck in the dream.
He touched his neck and smiled at Tang Shizhe: “I forgot.”
Tang Shizhe cheerfully invited him: “Come on, brother, lie down and sleep some more!”
.
After finishing his classes for the day, Lu Chu was stopped by Tang Shizhe on his way back to the dorm.
Lu Chu was puzzled: “What’s up?”
Tang Shizhe grinned and winked: “Good news.”
Lu Chu smiled: “What good news?”
“Remember I mentioned the dance club’s social event with girls?” Tang Shizhe’s excitement was palpable.
Lu Chu thought for a moment and nodded: “I vaguely remember.”
Tang Shizhe’s grin widened: “The event is tonight!”
Lu Chu laughed and nodded: “Have fun.”
“Of course it’ll be fun, and we’re all going to have fun together,” Tang Shizhe slung an arm around Lu Chu’s shoulder. “Come on, bro, let’s enjoy the night.”
Lu Chu hesitated: “I’d rather not. I don’t really like those kinds of gatherings.”
Tang Shizhe was surprised: “Why not?”
“Too noisy, and I don’t like dealing with so many strangers,” Lu Chu explained. “I prefer quiet places with fewer people. And these events usually involve drinking, and I don’t drink.”
“Not drinking? Man, you’ve got to learn to drink at some point. In the future, there’ll be many social gatherings where you’ll have to drink. This is just practice,” Tang Shizhe said, showing concern for his friend’s future. “And it’s a social with girls; we won’t drink much, we don’t want to make a bad impression. Come on, Gao Yong and Chen Hong are going too, we can’t leave anyone behind.”
Lu Chu was surprised: “Chen Hong is going too?” Tang Shizhe nodded as if it were obvious: “Yeah.”
“Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”
Tang Shizhe explained: “His girlfriend is in the dance club. I told him it’s not fair for him to be the only one with a girlfriend, so he talked to her and arranged this event.”
As they talked, Gao Yong approached: “What are you guys doing?”
“I’m convincing Lu Chu,” Tang Shizhe replied.
Gao Yong looked at Lu Chu: “Convincing him about what?”
Tang Shizhe answered: “Lu Chu doesn’t like noisy gatherings or drinking, so he doesn’t want to go to the social tonight.”
“I thought it was something serious,” Gao Yong said decisively. “You may not like noisy places or drinking, but you like girls, right?”
Lu Chu: “…”
